EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > Q - Wetlands > Q2 - Valley mires, poor fens and transition mires > Q22 - Poor fen

Poor fen

Description (English)

This type of mire, fed by a throughput of acid, nutrient-poor groundwater occurs in a variety of topographic situations (around upland springs, in the laggs of raised bogs, in forest hollows and among infertile fen-grassland complexes) throughout the siliceous landscapes of temperate Europe, particularly in the north. There is a continuous surface carpet of oligotrophic sphagna and small sedges and an associated flora of mire generalists characteristic of less minerotrophic situations. Surface patterning is usually very limited but, towards the boreal regions, there can be a gentle hummock-hollow pattern with scattered trees in drier areas.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code Q22
Relation to	Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive)
Relation to	Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)

Legal status

Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments

Legal text	Annex	Name in legal text	Code in legal text	Habitat type relationship	More information
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Transition mires and quaking bogs;	7140	Overlap	http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Depressions on peat substrates of the Rhynchosporion	7150	Overlap
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2010)	Aapa mires	D3.2	Overlap	https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc....ckColorLogged=FDC864 Resolution No. 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention lists endangered natural habitats requiring specific conservation measures [and the designation of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCIs) forming the Emerald network]

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Indicator species

Diagnostic species

Constant species

Dominant species

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum recurvum

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum palustre

Mosses & Liverworts Straminergon stramineum

Flowering Plants Viola palustris

Flowering Plants Eriophorum angustifolium

Flowering Plants Carex echinata

Flowering Plants Carex canescens

Flowering Plants Agrostis canina

Flowering Plants Vaccinium oxycoccos

Flowering Plants Carex nigra

Mosses & Liverworts Polytrichum commune

Flowering Plants Carex rostrata

Flowering Plants Drosera rotundifolia

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum papillosum

Diagnostic species occur concentrated in the habitat in question, but are absent or rare in other habitats. They are good positive indicators of the habitat, but they do not need to occur in every location of the habitat.

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Sphagnum recurvum		Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum palustre		Mosses & Liverworts
Straminergon stramineum		Mosses & Liverworts
Viola palustris		Flowering Plants
Eriophorum angustifolium		Flowering Plants
Carex echinata		Flowering Plants
Carex canescens		Flowering Plants
Agrostis canina		Flowering Plants
Vaccinium oxycoccos		Flowering Plants
Carex nigra		Flowering Plants
Polytrichum commune		Mosses & Liverworts
Carex rostrata		Flowering Plants
Drosera rotundifolia		Flowering Plants
Sphagnum papillosum		Mosses & Liverworts

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum recurvum

Flowering Plants Eriophorum angustifolium

Flowering Plants Carex nigra

Flowering Plants Potentilla erecta

Flowering Plants Molinia caerulea

Mosses & Liverworts Polytrichum commune

Flowering Plants Agrostis canina

Flowering Plants Carex echinata

Flowering Plants Carex rostrata

Flowering Plants Viola palustris

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum palustre

Flowering Plants Drosera rotundifolia

Flowering Plants Vaccinium oxycoccos

Mosses & Liverworts Aulacomnium palustre

Mosses & Liverworts Straminergon stramineum

Flowering Plants Eriophorum vaginatum

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum papillosum

Flowering Plants Carex canescens

Flowering Plants Nardus stricta

Flowering Plants Juncus effusus

Constant species occur frequently in the habitat, but they may include generalist species that are also frequent in other habitats.

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Sphagnum recurvum		Mosses & Liverworts
Eriophorum angustifolium		Flowering Plants
Carex nigra		Flowering Plants
Potentilla erecta		Flowering Plants
Molinia caerulea		Flowering Plants
Polytrichum commune		Mosses & Liverworts
Agrostis canina		Flowering Plants
Carex echinata		Flowering Plants
Carex rostrata		Flowering Plants
Viola palustris		Flowering Plants
Sphagnum palustre		Mosses & Liverworts
Drosera rotundifolia		Flowering Plants
Vaccinium oxycoccos		Flowering Plants
Aulacomnium palustre		Mosses & Liverworts
Straminergon stramineum		Mosses & Liverworts
Eriophorum vaginatum		Flowering Plants
Sphagnum papillosum		Mosses & Liverworts
Carex canescens		Flowering Plants
Nardus stricta		Flowering Plants
Juncus effusus		Flowering Plants

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum recurvum

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum palustre

Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum papillosum

Mosses & Liverworts Polytrichum commune

Flowering Plants Molinia caerulea

Flowering Plants Carex rostrata

Flowering Plants Carex nigra

Flowering Plants Eriophorum angustifolium

Dominant species are those that often reach high cover in the habitat, thus determining the habitat physiognomy.

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Sphagnum recurvum		Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum palustre		Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum papillosum		Mosses & Liverworts
Polytrichum commune		Mosses & Liverworts
Molinia caerulea		Flowering Plants
Carex rostrata		Flowering Plants
Carex nigra		Flowering Plants
Eriophorum angustifolium		Flowering Plants

Please note that a maximum of 20 species of each indicator category is shown.

Other classifications

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	D2.2	Poor fens and soft-water spring mires	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	D3.2	Aapa mires	overlap
European Red List of Habitats	D2.2a	Poor fen	same

For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	D2.2	Poor fens and soft-water spring mires	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	D3.2	Aapa mires	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	D2.2	Poor fens	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	D3.2	Aapa mires	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	D3.2	Aapa mires	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	D2.2	Poor fens	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	D3.2	Aapa mires	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	D2.2	Poor fens	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	D2.2	Poor fens	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	D3.2	Aapa mires	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	X03	Aapa mires	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	D2.2	Acid flushes and marshes, dominated by small sedges and often sphagna	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	54.4	Acidic fens	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	54.8	Aapa mires	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	54.8	Aapa mires	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	54.4	Acidic fens	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	54.4		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	54.8		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	54.8		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	54.4		same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	54.4		same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989	54.4		same

Write to us

Call us

Sections

Poor fen

Description (English)

Quick facts

Legal status

Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Indicator species

Other classifications

History